Opposite Ends of the Spectrum
The two players in the heads up match could not have been much more different unless they tried. Bryan Devonshire is your all-American nice guy, a little goofy, but a jovial spirit that chats as much with the crowd as he does with the players at his table. Alex Kravchenko is a quiet man, with a stern demeanor. You wouldn’t call him a mad Russian or anything, but it’s a safe bet that you could count the number of times he smiles in a given day on one hand.

Devonshire had been able to close the gap during the first part of their heads-up match. That would all change though with a board of K102A on the table. Devonshire bet $80,000 and Kravchenko raised to $160,000. The 5 was peeled off the deck on the river. Each player had $435,000 committed to the pot at this point. Kravchenko then fired out $80,000 more and Devonshire said, “So sick.” He then made the infamous crying call that plagues many a poker player at night and Kravchenko flipped over KQJ2. Devonshire mucked his hand and Kravchenko now had an overwhelming lead.

Devonshire was now in all in mode with only $220,000. He was able to survive many hands by taking either the high or the low hand. Devonshire was able to double up when he was all in for $175,000. He scooped a pot with J544 in his hand on a board of Q849A. The crowd of railbirds broke into applause. Brandon Cantu called out to Devonshire after the hand “Here we go, this is the time,” said Cantu. “I need a line of horseshoes,” said Devonshire with a smirk on his face.

Devonshire was all in on every hand he decided to play by this point and he shoved all his chips into the middle on a flop of QQ44. He then flipped over AA85. Kravchenko showed A1094 though, and the 8 on the river was no help. Devonshire finished in second place, and took home $140,336. Kravchenko won the gold bracelet for the $1,500 Omaha High-Low 8/OB event and $228,446.   

Chop it Up

On a board of K532 Bryan Devonshire bet $60,000 and John Varner raised to $120,000. The A was peeled off the deck on the river and Devonshire reached for $120,000. Varner called and flipped over A743. Devonshire showed JJ64 and they chopped up the pot.

“Scccoooooooop!”

On a board of A95K2 with $240,000 in the pot Bryan Devonshire fired out $60,000 and John Varner folded. Alex Kravchenko made the call. Devonshire turned over KQQ7 and Kravchenko mucked. The fans on the rail then broke into a chorus of “Scoop” chants in approval of the victory for Devonshire. Devonshire now had $745,000, Varner was down to $255,000, and Kravchenko held $975,000. The players then went on a fifteen minute break.

- John Varner was eliminated shortly after the break by Devonshire and action was down to heads-up. Here is how the chip stacks stacked up at the beginning of that match:

Alex Kravchenko: $2,005,000
Bryan Devonshire: $695,000

Devonshire Fights Back

A few hands into the match Devonshire was able to pull off a $250,000 swing and grew his stack to $880,000. Kravchenko still held $1,065,000, but Devonshire had started his climb back into contention. The crowd applauded with every pot he took down, the volume adjusting accordingly to the size of the pot.

Comeback?

Bryan Andrews made a move on a board of A 10 2 6 8 with $140,000 in the pot. He bet $40,000 and Alex Kravchenko folded. John Varner made the call after a minute of contemplation and Andrews flipped over A 8 4 4. Varner mucked his hand and Andrews was on the comeback trail with $300,000.

Not So Much

The trail would be a short one however. Andres was busted by the full house of Bryan Devonshire on the very next hand. Devonshire took a commanding chip lead with $1,025,000 after the hand.

- J.R. Reiss was the next player to hit the rail when he was busted by Kravchenko a few hands later.

Action was now three handed and here is how the chip stacks of the final three competitors looked:

Bryan Devonshire: $950,000
Alex Kravchenko: $640,000
John Varner: $450,000

“Aaaarrrrrrrggggghhhhh”

Both Bryan Devonshire and Alex Kravchenko had $60,000 committed to the pot when a flop of 10 4 2 was dealt. Devonshire bet $30,000 and Kravchenko called. The 8 was dealt on the turn and Devonshire fired out $60,000. Kravchenko called again and the river brought the Q. Once again Devonshire bet and Kravchenko called. Kravchenko quickly flipped over A 8 7 2. Devonshire let out a slow “aaaaarrrrrgggghhhhh” under his breath and mucked.